Patient newsletter · Our summary
The word on vaping: don’t start
Vaping isn’t harmless for your mouth. Learn how e-cigarettes can affect gums and teeth — a helpful read to share with teens.
Still new, still unknown
E-cigarettes haven’t been around long, so their long-term health effects aren’t known. But in 2019 and 2020, reports of serious illness after vaping, including seizures and severe lung injury, made headlines.
What is vaping?
Instead of burning tobacco, a vape heats a liquid into a fine vapor that is inhaled. Devices come in many shapes; some are small and look like a pen or a USB drive, so parents may not recognize them.
What’s in the vapor?
It’s hard to know exactly. Studies have found chemicals linked to cancer and lung disease, and some sweet flavors may raise the risk of cavities. Most vapes contain addictive nicotine, even some labeled “nicotine-free.”
Can it help you quit smoking?
The research is mixed; some people end up both vaping and smoking. The ADA and AMA urge smokers to use FDA-approved quit methods instead. If you switched to vaping to quit, the CDC advises not going back to cigarettes.
Our advice
Don’t start, and if you or your teen already vape, talk with us or your physician about ways to quit. We’re here to help, never to judge.
Questions? Ask Dr. Greg or Dr. Gina at your next visit — we’re always happy to talk.
This information is general and not a substitute for personal dental advice.